Medicaid reform commission begins work amid protests

RICHMOND – The General Assembly commission tasked with monitoring the progress of Medicaid reform with an eye to expanding the program in Virginia held its first meeting in Richmond Monday.

The Medicaid Innovation and Reform Commission, made up of five delegates and five senators, heard testimony from Cindi Jones, director of the state Department of Medical Assistance Services, and Secretary of Health and Human Services William Hazel, about the progress of reforms to the state's Medicaid program.

Lawmakers created the commission as part of the state budget bill during the last General Assembly session as a compromise between the House of Delegates and Senate over whether the state should expand its health care program for the poor under the federal Affordable Care Act.

Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta, was chosen to head the commission Monday, and said the meeting marked the beginning of what would be a challenging process.

"We cannot do nothing in the commonwealth," Hanger said. "We have a great system of health care, but it's becoming increasingly unaffordable not only for the poor but for the middle class."

Under the rules set up for the commission, three delegates and three senators must agree that reforms to the state's Medicaid program have been achieved before the expansion can go forward.

Last year the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Affordable Care Act was constitutional, but said provisions for expanding Medicaid to 133 percent of the federal poverty level was optional for states. The federal government will pay 100 percent of the expansion costs for the first three years of the program, and 90 percent thereafter.

A number of opponents of Medicaid expansion began chanting "Kill the bill" during the meeting and had to be quieted by Hanger.

Del. Brenda Pogge, R-James City County, joined opponents at a protest rally outside the Capitol before the meeting. Pogge, who is not on the commission, said Medicaid expansion is "a backdoor approach to socialized medicine."

"There is an agenda under this (President Barack) Obama administration," Pogge said. "And this Obamacare situation is most of the agenda – it's the fast track. And so that's why we're opposed to it."

Commission member Del. Jimmie Massie, R-Henrico, said he would be "hard pressed to vote to expand Medicaid unless the reforms are in place and working."

Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, said some of her colleagues on the commission are looking for "excuses" not to expand the program. She said was optimistic that the commission would ultimately expand the program, although it may be a long process.

She said the Affordable Care Act was not socialized health care, and Medicaid expansion could provide health care for up to 400,000 uninsured Virginians.

"There are enough people of good will that understand this is something that needs to happen," Lucas said. "I believe it will happen. We'll have to work in good faith to convince them this is the right thing to do."